Microsoft has announced in a blog post on Thursday that it will postpone the release of Recall, an AI tool designed to track user activity, due to privacy and security concerns. As a result, Recall will not be included with the Copilot+ PC launch scheduled for next week.
In its Thursday blog post, Microsoft announced that the Recall AI tool will transition from being a “broadly available” feature to a preview exclusively for the Windows Insiders Program (WIP). This change will take effect with the release of the new Copilot+ PC on June 18. Microsoft intends to roll out Recall to all Copilot+ PCs shortly after gathering feedback from WIP participants. Windows Corporate Vice President Pavan Davuluri stated, “This decision underscores our commitment to providing a trusted, secure, and robust experience for all customers.”
Microsoft unveiled the Copilot+ PC on May 20, promoting it as a computer optimized for advanced AI applications, including the Recall tool. Recall, an AI feature designed to take periodic screenshots to document user activity, enables users to search and retrieve their past actions. However, the tool quickly sparked controversy, with industry experts raising alarms about potential security risks. They warned that hackers could exploit Recall to access sensitive user information, such as usernames and passwords.
Following the criticism, Microsoft initially stated that the Recall feature would be disabled by default, necessitating users to opt in. Additionally, the company introduced further security measures such as encrypted search databases and mandatory enrollment in Windows Hello, where users verify their identity using a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition. Microsoft’s decision to postpone Recall comes amid escalating security apprehensions in the rapidly advancing AI landscape. Recently, a U.S. government review board rebuked the company for its response to China’s intrusion into email accounts of U.S. government officials.
